No one wants a leaky duct, but that desire alone doesn’t stop leaks and cracks from occurring. You may not even need to see the leak for you to recognize that something is off. When a leak is present in your ducts, the symptoms of it will show through a lack of efficient heating in your home and even a spike in your energy bill.
A leak or crack in your ductwork can reduce heating and cooling efficiency up to 45 percent, leaving your home or building at an uncomfortable temperature or causing your HVAC to work overtime to make up for the loss. And when your HVAC has to work harder, your energy bill will reflect the repercussions.
Entek strives to make sure that every residential or commercial system is working to its full potential. Through our Planned Maintenance Program and various services, our technicians can keep you informed on the state of your ductwork and what can help to keep the system in great working condition. So when you have a leak in your ductwork, you’ll want to look into which ductwork sealing products could be best for your situation.
That’s why there are a variety of duct-sealing options. From classic solutions to the most advanced duct-sealing technology, we can tell you about the ductwork-sealing products available to help fix your issue. These are a few of the most common options for ductwork-sealing products.
Duct Sealing Tape
One of the most basic ductwork-sealing products you can use is sealing tape, which is sometimes referred to as HVAC tape. There are many different brands of this tape you can choose from, and it’s readily available at most hardware stores. To use this option, you just place the tape directly on the leak.
Though similar in name, your standard duct tape isn’t the kind of tape we’re talking about. Sure, it’s a strong tape to use on other things, but when used to seal a leak in your ductwork, standard duct tape won’t be up for the job. If you choose normal duct tape to seal your ducts, you’ll notice it drying out and falling away quite quickly, defeating the point and contributing to your loss of heat and increase in bills.
HVAC tape is typically made from aluminum foil and marked with a UL logo. This logo stands for Underwriters Laboratories and confirms that the tape is suitable for ductwork. For small leaks and quick fixes, HVAC tape is the way to go. But there are other options that provide longer-lasting results.
Mastic Sealant
Mastic sealant is another popular ductwork-sealing product. It’s slightly messier than duct-sealing tape, but mastic sealant is an option that can be more effective. This white or grey elastic substance starts out rather gooey, which is what you want it to be like when applying it on a crack or leak area. But after a while, the substance hardens and seals in the leak pretty well. It seals it by both covering the leak and by slipping into the crack itself. It can be applied with a paintbrush or even a caulk gun.
This is another good option for generally small leaks in your ductwork. Unlike duct-sealing tape, mastic sealant is more resistant to moisture and heat. It also does well on metal because it isn’t prone to corrosion.
Though this is a sturdier option for sealing ducts than placing tape on top of the crack, there is another option that takes on a different approach and is even more effective than both mastic sealant and duct-sealing tape.
Aeroseal
When it comes to ductwork-sealing products, none stand up to the quality of Aeroseal. Only approved HVAC technicians are able to offer this product to customers, and the technicians at Entek are proud to be a part of those qualified.
Entek offers this option to both residential and commercial customers because of its reliability, and also because it’s the only product that can seal your ducts from the inside. When applying this product, HVAC technicians introduce airborne adhesive particles into an HVAC duct system. After the technician blocks all fans, grills, and furnaces, the system will become pressurized, making it able to receive Aeroseal. Using advanced computer technology, all of the cracks, holes, and leaks will be able specifically identified. Then the airborne adhesive will be able to seal those cracks, leaks, and holes in just a matter of hours.
The occupants of the building remain undisturbed as this process is being completed, which makes it unnecessary to have the building evacuated while Aeroseal is being applied. In just a few hours, those once leaking ducts will be sealed up to 95 percent, which is a result that no other product can compete with. That’s is why it was called “one of the best scientific and technological accomplishments since this department was first established” by the US Department of Energy.
This technology comes with big savings for your home. Aeroseal can save the average residence between $600 and $850 in energy savings in the first year alone. It will also save you time and money down the line.
Regular Maintenance
These three options for ductwork sealing products can repair your ducts and allow your HVAC to properly and efficiently heat and cool your home. With the help of Entek, you can get the most out of your HVAC experience all year long. Consider having Aeroseal as a part of your duct sealing, and your ducts and home will reap the benefits.
And if you want to stay on top of HVAC and duct issues, become a part of our Planned Maintenance Program. With this program, our staff will keep track of when your ducts and HVAC need to be serviced or inspected and will contact you when that time comes. It’s the best way to stay ahead of any problems or to catch them before they impact your home.
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